William J. Drennen
William J. Drennen, 86, of Oak Grove, passed away on Saturday, November 8, 2014, at his home. He was born on September 7, 1928, in Geneva, Ohio, a son of David E. and Marion Abbott Drennen.
Bill was a 1947 graduate of MHS where he was an outstanding athlete. There he met his high school sweetheart, Marilyn Carver. They married on January 21, 1949, and celebrated their 65th anniversary this year.
Marilyn and Bill reared 4 children: David (Karen) Drennen, Doug (Jan) Drennen, Sherri (Chris) Hess all of Marietta, and their son Kevin who is deceased. He was the grandfather of 7: Kenny (Tara) Drennen, Kasey (Michele) Drennen, Christy (Jennings) Illar, Kelly (Ted) Dawson, Bryce Sellars, Caleb Hess, Connor Hess; and great grandfather of 9. He is also survived by his brother David (Dorothea) Drennen of Reynoldsburg and numerous nieces and nephews.
Bill worked for Ohio Bell Telephone, retired in 1983, and remained an active member of the Telephone Pioneers. His love of sports led him to becoming a basketball referee. He was also the #1 fan of his grandchildren’s sports teams.
He was instrumental in starting the Oak Grove Volunteer Fire Department in 1956 and continued his membership there until his death. He was a fire training instructor for 30 years.
He was an active member of the Gilman Avenue United Methodist Church where he served as a Sunday school teacher, layman, usher and representative of the church at the Methodist conference at Lakeside, Ohio, for years.
Bill loved Marietta but his passion for fishing led him to spending his winters in the Florida Keys. His favorite saying was “a bad day at fishing is better than a good day at work!” He shared his fishing skills, teaching family and friends his fishing secrets. He also enjoyed camping, traveling, gardening and his daily breakfast date with Marilyn at McDonalds.
He was preceded in death by his parents, brother Grant, 3 sisters: Mary Caldwell, his twin sister Wilma Foster, Millie Houser, and grandson Rusty Sellars.
Funeral services will be held on Wednesday (Nov. 12) at 1:00pm at Gilman United Methodist Church with Reverend Diann O’Bryant officiating. Following the funeral, his fellow firefighters will take Bill on his final ride on a fire truck to Greenlawn Cemetery in Lowell. Friends may call at McClure-Schafer-Lankford Funeral Home on Tuesday from 3-5 & 6-8. Messages of sympathy may be sent at www.Lankfordfh.com.
He will be sadly missed by family and friends. We were so blessed to have him in our lives.
In lieu of flowers, the family request memorial contribution to either Gilman United Methodist Church or Oak Grove Fire Department.